Sell

Deciding to sell your home is a tremendous financial and emotional decision. Choosing an establish and trusted real estate company can help turn this stressful, confusing process into a stress-free transaction. Using a realtor means you and your family can focus on starting your new lifestyle without worrying about the hassle of selling your current home.

Step 1: Plan and Prepare to Sell Your House- Putting your house on the market doesn’t happen overnight. Most homes need thorough assessments as well as paint jobs and repairs. As the real estate market changes, you may also want to wait for a particular time of year or market climate before listing your home for sale.

Step 2: Stage Your Home- The difference between a staged home and an unstaged home can translate to thousands of dollars in the sale price. Clutter often makes rooms seem smaller, and overwhelming decorations may prevent a potential buyer from envisioning their own style in the room. This is a time to truly accept that you’re moving forward and allow yourself to picture your home through potential buyers’ eyes. Check out our Staging Tools

Step 3: Get a REALTOR- Finding a realtor trained in your local market trends can help ensure you receive the best offer on your home as quickly as possible. Realtors have access to more marketing possibilities than the average home seller, which means that your home listing will reach more potential buyers in less time. Your realtor will also be instrumental in finalizing the paperwork involved with closing on your home sale.

Step 4: Set the Price- Your agent will likely help you figure out the best listing price for your home. Market trends, neighborhood values, and interest rates will all figure into the final number. Seller contributions, mortgage point funding, and home improvement promises may also figure into the deal. A broker is likely to help you finalize this number while including all possible variables. Find out the Value of your home with a Free Home Valuation

Step 5: Market Your Home- Your realtor will likely turn to the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) first by entering your home into the online database. Realtors also have client bases they specifically target with mailings, new-listing announcements, and company newsletters. Your realtor’s broker may also become involved by making phone calls, contacting perspective clients, and following up with open house visitors.

Step 6: Sell Your Home- Having an experienced realtor in your corner is especially important come negotiation time. This is more than just a financial arrangement, it’s an emotional one, as well. Selling your home can mean a job change, school changes for your children, and possibly leaving behind everything familiar to you and your family. People will be coming in and out of your home, sizing it up for themselves. Your realtor wears many hats, and helping you with your emotional transition is a priority for them. From fielding phone calls about your home to drafting complex paperwork, your realtor will do anything they can to make your home selling process as stress-free as possible.

Step 7: Closing- Once you’ve finally accepted an offer on your home, inspections will be done to satisfy both the buyer and their mortgage lender. Many sale agreements are incredibly complex and feature a number of qualifications and fine print. Your realtor is familiar with these documents and can help guide you through the process.

Step 8: Moving- Depending on how far you’re moving, you may require the assistance of a professional mover. Large, bulky items like television sets and furniture are not generally accepted by companies like FedEx or UPS. Consider not only the cost to move, but other factors like time and proper equipment. Though professional movers may seem pricey at first, when you look at the time and money to get similar results, you may re-consider. Be sure to get moving estimates in writing and compare several companies. Ask for discounts and be sure to only use licensed, bonded movers. Also make a checklist so that you’re organized and efficient. Check out our Moving Checklist